Aware of Lisa Prieto’s predicament, hospital staff got Syndy Miller of Heartworks Photography to rush to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In the waiting room, furniture pushed aside, Miller snapped what would become one of the most important photos to the Ahwatukee Foothills family.

Brothers Seth, Bradley and Emmett are snuggled together against a blue background, with Seth looking limp and nearly unconscious in the arms of his big brother, Bradley.

Seth survived the surgery, turning a photo of near tragedy to one of hope, courage and appreciation for life.

"Just to have them all together and have a picture of them all together was priceless because we didn’t know if we’d ever have the opportunity again," she said. "Now we can look back and say, ‘Look what he went through and he’s still here.’ "

Started about four years ago in Chandler, Heartworks has photographed hospitalized and special-needs children whose families said the photo shoots changed their lives, turning tough times into images reflecting the strength and essence of their children.

Sometimes the photos, provided free to families, are the last ones parents have of their children before they die.

Heartworks strives to capture the vitality and beauty of children whose health problems or medical equipment make it too difficult to go to a photography studio, said founder Syndy Miller. Using digital editing and enhancement, the nonprofit organization erases feeding and oxygen tubes taped to children’s faces. Dirty hospital gowns are covered up with costumes. And hours are spent making sure children look the way their parents see them: As normal kids.

"We had no idea the impact it would have on the families," Miller said. "It was a stunning awareness that came to us, the magnitude of what we’re doing."

THE REAL CHILD

Alise Mapp spent the first seven months of her life in the hospital, where she had several surgeries for tricuspid atresia, a heart condition in which the right lower chamber is absent, forcing the left chamber to do all the work. Her parents, Debbie and James of Ahwatukee Foothills, had never seen their baby without an IV and oxygen tube until Heartworks photos were offered at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, James Mapp said.

Miller took a close-up of Alise and erased the white oxygen tube in her nose.

"They gave us real photos that captured who our baby was," Mapp said. "There’s so much emphasis on the problem the child has, the illness or the difficulties.

The Heartworks photo, he said, "lets parents know there’s a special, beautiful child there, not just an illness."

Now 18 months, Alise is much healthier, with the scars on her chest the only sign of her struggle.

"Now that she’s gotten older, it’s given us a frame of reference, showing us how sickly a little girl she was," James said.

Miller said she, too, was sick as a child, spending four years under constant medical care, which entailed nine operations. The former Chandler resident, who now lives in Illinois, said she grew weary of being identified only for her illness — an experience that inspired her to start Heartworks.

"Everyone takes pity on you and you get known as your illness," Miller said. "You lose your individuality. People forget you’re a human being."

Children can pick out what they want to wear during a Heartworks photo shoot. Favorites are cowboy outfits and football uniforms. At Phoenix Children’s Hospital this month, patients could get a portrait next to a Christmas tree. For one child, Miller said she was able to disguise a partially shaved head and eye patch.

The ability to show children in a normal light has created increased demand for Heartworks’ services. The nonprofit enterprise visits more than 20 hospitals and other organizations in eight cities. But with a small volunteer staff, limited donations and no one dedicated to boosting fund-raising and grant-writing, Heartworks volunteers spend all of their time maintaining existing services, which include photo packages that cost Heartworks more than $50 a family. Miller said she has a waiting list of 28 hospitals interested in bringing Heartworks to their facilities.

"Each year that goes by they’re stretched more and more thin," said Dr. Kelvin Panesar, a Scottsdale pediatric pulmonologist and member of the Heartworks’ board. The board is exploring ways to help the nonprofit grow.

"There are lots of sick children, and it’s a service I’d like to see perpetuated," said Panesar, the father of two specialneeds kids. "When you have a child that’s hospitalized, it’s a very stressful time. They’re very sick and not at their best. You don’t want to remember the hard times or the tough times, especially if they pass away. You want to remember what’s special about the child."

A LIVING PHOTO

John Romero has a tattoo of his daughter, Alexis, on his back. The tattoo is a replica of a Heartworks photo taken shortly before Alexis died last year. The picture was used at her funeral and is hanging up in their Surprise home.

"It’s made it easier for us to remember her for the baby she was, and how special she was," said Alexis’ mother, Diana Romero. "It helps you just focus on the days she was with us."

Alexis was hospitalized from birth with a congenital heart defect. Shortly before she was discharged from Phoenix Children’s Hospital with a bright outlook, Alexis had her picture taken by Heartworks. But after nine days at home, Alexis’ health declined and she died.

The next day, the Heartworks photos arrived.